Button keeper



April 29, 1958 V. I. AKERS BUTTON KEEPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 18, 1955 INVENTOR.

VICTOR I. AKERS BY I ATTORNEY April 29, 1958 v. r. AKERS 2,832,659

BUTTON KEEPER Filed April 18. 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

74 worm? A/(ERS BY I z ATTORNEY V. l. AKERS BUTTON KEEPER April 29, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 18, 1955 INVEN TOR. V/GTOI? AKERS BY ATTORNEY BUTTON KEEPER Victor I. Alters, Berkeiey, Calif.

Application April 18, 1955, Serial No. 501,797

3 Claims. (Cl. 312-266) item. Whatever devices have been employed heretofore for retaining buttons have either been relatively large bins carrying standard sizes of buttons or two or more drawers of a table or the like in which the buttons are haphazardly or randomly disposed requiring the laundry atetttO worker to spend considerable time to locate and separate"* out desired buttons of desired size, type and color. The

present invention is directed to obviating disadvantages encountered heretofore in locating and attaching buttons to laundry items and to provide an improved device which can be-removably mounted directly. upon a work-"' ers bench or in close proximity thereto.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved button keeper wherein a plurality of different sizes of buttons of different types and colors are separately retained in a plurality of compartments readily accessible to an operator.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved button keeper of the indicated nature which is additionally characterized by its ready shift- :ability in order that different sizes of buttons and colors can be quickly removed from the keeper.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved button keeper of the aforemenftioned character which is capable of being rotatably as pensive to manufacture and which requires little main tenance.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings along with certain modified embodiments thereof. It is to be understood, however, that I am not to be limited to the precise embodiments shown, nor to the precise arrangement of the various parts thereof, as my invention, as defined in the appended claims, can be cmbodied in a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, this view being partly broken away to illustrate the construction.

"well as removably mounted in close proximity to a:

ice

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, this view showing the embodiment partially in sectional elevation to illustrate the construction.

Fig. 3 is a partially perspective and partially sectional elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the pres ent invention as well as its universal mounting.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention and mounting means therefor to enable rotation of the embodiment in a horizontal plane. Fig. 5 is still another side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, together with universal mountingmeans therefor including a Wall bracket.

Fig. 6 is a view somewhat similar to the view of Fig. 5 but illustrating thepreferred embodiment of the present invention in side elevation, together with'a cross-sectional elevational view of the mounting means therefor illus- Fig. 7 is a top plan view, partially cut away, of a modified embodiment of the present invention, this view being taken on the section line 77 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view of the modification of the present invention which is illustrated in Fig. 7.

In its preferred form, the improved button keeper of my present invention preferably comprises a central post, a container movably mounted on said post; said container being divided into a plurality of sectors each containing a plurality of open-top compartments of variablesize for removably holding buttons of various sizes, types and colors, together with a lid fixed to said post and overlying said compartments, and a series of doors in one portion of said lid for gaining access to buttons in any selected one of said compartments after movementof said container to bring the selected compartment into underlying relationship with respect to one of said doors. A modified embodiment of the present invention includes, in addition to the combination of the preferred embodiment above described, a large compartment underlying said container, a plurality of hingedly mounted doors normally closing said large compartment, together with trays mounted along the walls of said large compartment for holding needles, shears, thirnbles and the like, and a plurality of spaced pins fixedly secured in upright positions in the bottom of said large compartment for removably receiving spools of thread of variable weight and color. I

In accordance with my invention, 1 provide in my improved button keeper a central post 11 and utilize a portion thereof as a journal for a bearing 12 which is formed integral with a compartmentized container 13, thus mounting the container for rotation about the central post 11. The container 13 preferably is formed to a circular shape and is molded from any commercially available transparent plastic material in order that objects in the compartments thereof can be visible from the exterior without lifting any cover or lid; although the container can be cast from any suitable light weight material, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy or can be fabricated from wood with the cover or lid molded from a transparent plastic material so that the contents of the compartments of the container may be observed In the exemplification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings,

tightened, enables the mounting of the keeper on a standard or other portion of the frame of a standard .ments 39 by. means of the radial partitions 41. V compartments 34 of the inner. sector are made relatively spaced and radially extending ribs 18. At one section,

the lid 17 is interrupted bya seriesof spaced, radially extending doors which are designated in the accompanying drawings by the reference numeral 19; each of the doors 19 preferably consisting of a section 21') formed integral with the cover 17 as well as a section 21 which is pivotally connected to a pin 22 spanning the opposite side panels 23 and 24 of the series of doors. A suitable spring 26 is coiled about each pin 22 and has one extremity 27 thereof bearing against the undersurface of each pivoted door section 21 thus serving to maintain each door closed but readily opened downwardly upon slight pressure to overcome the tension of an associated spring 26.

In accordance with the invention, container 13 is divided into three sectors by means of the outer rim 31 of the container as well as intermediate circular partitions 32 and 33; the sector closest to the central post 11 being naturally of smaller area than the succeeding sectors extending outwardly from the central post 11. Each sector of the container 13 in turn is divided into a plurality of compartments by means of radially extend- .ing spaced partitions. As shown, the inner sector is formed with a plurality of compartments 34 by means of the radial partitions 36; the intermediate annular sector is formed with a greater number of compartments 37 by means of the radial partitions 38 and the outer annular sector is formed-wither still greater number of compart- The large and .it is contemplated that such compartments should be used to store large sized buttons. partrnents 37 of the intermediate sector are relatively small in size and can be used to store relatively small buttons, while the somewhat larger compartments 39 of the outer sector of the container can be used'for standard sized buttons. By'the provision of this great number.

I of compartments of variable sizes, an entire range of buttons with respect to size, type and color can be kept in container 13 and be readily available for removal and attachment to a laundered shirt or other garment. I

. To enable quick selection of. desiredbuttons and removal thereof from the container 13, I have-provided means on the. container for selectively bringingany desired compartment of the container holding desired buttons into a stationary position with respect to the series of doors 19. These means preferably comprise a series of semi-spheres or complete spheres 46 seated upon springs, not shown, and a series of cavities, also not shown, formedin the outerrim-31 of the container in circumferentially spaced relationship, and preferably at the mid-point of the compartments 39 of the outer sector of compartments, all cooperating with a pair of diametrically arranged recesses 47, of which but one is shown in the drawings, see Fig. 2, which are formed in the underside of the outer rim 48 of the lid 17. One recess 47 is located in rim 48 at the transverse center of the doors 19 and its corresponding recess 47 is located at a diametrically opposite point in the underside of rim "48 of the lid. When an operator desires a button or a to grasp and remove one or more of the desired buttons The com-.

proved button keeper.

and thereafter sew the same to a shirt or other laundry item. The container 13 can thus readily be moved from position to position, at will, and brought to rest in a latched position with any selected compartment of the container in a position underlying the doors 19.

In Figs. 3-6 inclusive of the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated various modifications of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, such modifications primarily concerning the mounting means for the button keeper of the present invention. For example, in Fig. 3 of the annexed drawings, I have illustrated my improved button keeper in a tilted condition and secured to a planar surface 51, such as the upper surface of :1 sewing machine or the top surface or" a counter or the like. In the modification of Fig. 3, I have provided, as mounting means, a flanged base 52 which is secured by means of bolts 54 to the planar surface 51. Integral with or mounted upon base 52 is an aperturecl lug 56 in which a pivot pin 57 is secured andmounted upon the pivot pin 57 is a complementary apertured lug 58 which isbolted or otherwise secured to the central post 11 of my im- In addition to being tiltably mounted, it is to be understood that the container 13 of the button keeper is rotatably mounted as in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

The button keeper can also be mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane as shown in Fig. 4 wherein I provide a mounting means comprising a flanged base 61 which is detachably secured by means of bolts to the lower end of the central post 11 and detachably secu'redto a sewing machine top, a counter or the like, by means of bolts 62 extending through apertures provided in the flange 63 of thebase 61. p

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, I have illustrated a modified embodiment 'of my improved button keeper. In this modification, the button keeper is rotatable in a horizontal plane and is swingably mounted uponany suitable support such as a side wall of a cabinet or the underside of a sewing machine top as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, of the drawings. To elfect this mounting, I provide an arm 71 which is formed with a bearing member 72 at one extremity thereof and with a boss 73 at ,its inner extremity. Cooperating with the boss 73 of arm 71 for mounting the button keeper, I provide a base 74 and detachably secure the same to the bottom of-the button keeper by means of bolts 81; the base 74 having a tending through the hollow central post 11 of the-button keeper which may be identical with the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and which includes a container; 13 rotatably mounted on the central post 11 and ll-surrounds'a sleeve 86 which is secured between a pair of closure members 87 and 88 on the top and bottom of the sleeve 86, respectively, and secured together by means i of a screw-bolt 89 extending through the sleeve .86.

Closure members 87 and 88 are part of a bracket member 91 which, in the exemplification of Fig. 5, is detachably secured to a side panel 92 of any desired support by means of screw-bolts 93. In the. exemplification illustrated in Fig. 6 of the annexed drawings, the bearing member 72 on the outer extremity of arm 71'engages a sleeve 96 mounted between top and bottom closure-members 97 and 98, respectively, which are detachably secured together by means of a screw-bolt 98 passingthrough the hollow sleeve 96. The top closurev member 87 is do tachably secured by means of bolts to the underside of the top 99 of a sewing machine, a counter or other like element. By this construction of mounting means, the button keeper canbe swingably mounted to any desired supportand also can .be rotatably mounted on its central post 11 so that an operator may have ready access to buttons contained in the container 13 of the button keeper by depressing any one of the doors 19 formed in the lid 17 of the button keeper.

A modified embodiment of my present improvement in button keepers is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings and has been designed primarily for home use rather than for commercial uses in laundries and the like. In this modification, see particularly Fig. 8 of the annexed drawings, the but-ton keeper is in two tiers in which the upper tier comprises the rotatably mounted container element and the lower element or lower tier is employed for storing sewing paraphernalia. As illustrated, the modified button keeper comprises a central post 111 the upper portion of which is employed as a journal for a bearing 112 integrally formed with a container 113 which is thus rotatably mounted on the post for rotation in a horizontal plane. The container 113 is similar in all respects to that described and illustrated in Figs. 1-6, inclusive, constituting the preferred embodiment of the invention, as applied to commercial uses such as in laundries, and includes three circular sections each divided into a plurality of compartments of various sizes for holding diiferent sizes, types and colors of buttons. In this modification, the central post 111 is supported between interior shoulders 115 and 120, respectively, formed in the fixed lid 117, having a series of movable doors 119 therein, and a base 125. The lid 117 is fixedly mounted on or integral with a U-shaped member 130 fitted within the hollow central post 111, see Fig. 8. A partition 135, pierced at the center by the central post 111 and the U- shaped member 130, divides the modified button keeper medially of its height and serves to reinforce the structure.

While the modified button keeper shown in Figs. 7 and 8 can be entirely circular in cross-section, I have found it convenient to make the upper tier in which the container 113 is mounted to a circular shape, and to make the bottom tier substantially square or rectangular in cross-section. The bottom or lower tier preferably is formed with four trays 201 which are substantially identical in contour and size and which are pivotally mounted at the four corners of base 125. The trays 201 preferably are segmental in shape with an arcuate inner edge 202 joining side edges 203 and 204 that extend at right angles from the corners of the base, and a bottom panel 206. The junctures of the side edges 203 and 204 of the trays are enlarged and provided with threaded apertures 207 for threadedly receiving pivot pins 208 extending from the lid 117 to the .base 125 at the four corners of the base. By such pivotal mounting of the trays, each can be swung outwardly and away from its underlying relationship to the partition 135 so that access may be had to the contents of the trays.

As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 of the drawings, a plurality of pins 211 are secured in upstanding position to the bottom panel 206 of each tray and arranged in spaced relationship for receiving spools of thread. In the present modification, a sutficient number of pins 211 have been provided to accommodate eight spools of thread in each tray. In addition, a deep shelf 212 is secured along one edge, say the side edge 204 of each tray, and channelled out and partitioned, as at 213, to provide long recesses 214 for holding needles, thimbles and the like.

By the construction thus described, I have provided a unique home button keeper and holder for sewing paraphernalia which can be inexpensively manufactured and p which affords a compact unit for a multiplicity of buttons,

needles, spools of thread and the like which all normally are scattered about in various rooms or in various drawers of a sewing machine or the like.

It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents commensurate in scope with the advance made over the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination with a container having a plurality of concentric rows of compartments therein arranged about a central post and radially divided from one another in said rows, means mounting said container for rotation about said post, a lid fixedly secured to said post; said lid having a series of openings extending on one side of said post from the center of the lid radially outwardly to overlie compartments in said rows of compartments, and an inwardly opening door hingedly secured to said lid adjacent to each of said openings.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, and a series of tension springs each anchored to the underside of said lid adjacent to each of said openings and bearing against each of said doors to hold said doors closed until pressure is applied to the outside of said doors to overcome the tension of each of said springs whereby each of said doors may be opened inwardly.

3. A button keeper comprising a central post, a circular container rotatably mounted on said post, partitions in said container dividing the same into a plurality of concentric rows of compartments in which buttons of various sizes, types and colors are retained, a circular lid secured to said post and overlying said compartments; said lid having a row of openings at one side thereof arranged radially from the center of the lid outwardly and in align ment with the rows of said compartments, inwardly opening doors pivotally mounted on said lid adjacent to the openings therein, and means urging said doors to closed positions but permitting the opening thereof inwardly by exertion of slight pressure; rotation of said container about said post bringing any selected one of said compartments in underlying relationship to one of said doors whereby buttons may be removed by inwardly opening the overlying door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 353,985 Spath et al Dec. 7, 1886 1,860,029 Held May 24, 1932 2,051,136 Dormire Aug. 18, 1936 2,236,224 Raschkind Mar. 25, 1941 2,267,640 De Witt Dec. 23, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 472,409 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1937 

